Aiko π Zero reviewed Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture, Vol. 2 by Mikage Sawamura (Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture, #2)
Itβs no secret that Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki is a die-hard mystery fanatic, and with β¦
The Two, Between Reality and Another World
5 stars
(2023/11/03-2023/11/07, late post)
It was another amazing volume with brand new mysteries to solve. I once again learned new things about Japanese myth and folklore. Japanese ghost stories about bathrooms are especially nostalgic for me, as I realized I mostly know them from an old manga series. The theories and concepts Akira spoke of about "the ordinary and extraordinary", why ghost stories mostly circulate in schools, and "hayarigami" are fascinating. "Hayarigami" especially seems to be something that can only happen in Japan due to its polytheistic belief.
This volume deals with more emotional matters than the previous volume, especially concerning the 2 main characters. The cases are used to develop their personalities and propel his relationship with Akira even further. Naoya in particular had a rough awakening about his ability and finally accepted Akira into his heart.
Despite all the touching things Akira said (that made fangirls like me scream), he still kept Naoya at a distance...until the last chapter of the volume. He showed another side of him we have never seen before and we learned more about his past and circumstances. Perhaps, just as Naoya finally let Akira inside his well-protected heart, he finally started to let Naoya into his heart, too.
At this point, I don't know if I ship them platonically or romantically. I think their bond can be even deeper than that. They're walking side-by-side on a path between reality and another world (the world of the supernatural), bearing pasts and burdens nobody but each other can understand. Either way, I'm invested in them and their relationship and I want them to be happy. Also, I really like the concept of "staying connected to reality through other people and things you love".
I sure talked a lot about their relationship lol. It is central to this series, especially in this volume, after all. That said, the cases are no slouch, either! There's an even bigger indication that perhaps, supernatural phenomenon is actually real. And perhaps, a trouble for the duo is brewing...